ST. VITH (BE) Monument to the 106th Infantry Division

The St. Vith memorial to the 106th Division is located on the grounds of the Bischöfliche Schule St. Vith in the Klosterstrasse. The new monument, erected in 1994, was placed in front of the old one. The old monument, which was part of the school, threatened to be demolished as it was deteriorating. Consideration was given in placing a new memorial which would require minimal maintenance and was build out of material that is long lasting.

A large stone block was placed and stone walkways were layed. Many of the work was done by students and teachers of the school. A sturdy metal plaque was attached to the stone with a simple text. The dedication of the new memorial was held on September 25, 1994. It was attended by a prominent public of 106th Veterans, CRIBA members and officials.

This monument is the location where the annual Flag of Friendship Ceremony is held by the 106th Infantry Division Association "Bulge Chapter".

GPS Coordinates50°16'30.4"N 6°07'35.9"E

Update 12 July 2016

MANHAY (BE) Monument to the 424th I.R. and 7th Armored

A new monument honoring the valiant combat actions of the 424th Infantry Regiment and units of the 7th Armored Division during the period of 25-27 December 1944 was inaugurated on 17 December 2017. The monument is placed at the edge of the field through which the 424th attacked twice and lost many men. The initiative for the building of this monument was taken by the Ardennes History Remember 44-45 association.

GPS coordinates 50°17’40,3”N
5°40’15,6”E.

Updated 8 May 2018

LAUDESFELD (DE)Memorial to the Lost 500

This monument consists of a small wooden etched plaque.
It is dedicated to the fivehundred men of the 106th Infantry Division who
continued to resist the Germans from 19 till 21 December 1944 at the location
of the 422nd Infantry Regimental Motor pool near Laudesfeld, Germany. These men
were faced with overwhelming German forces and risked annihilation by enemy
artillery. No help would follow from Allied forces, who were by then fighting
at the gates of St. Vith, some twenty miles to the west. The men were forced to
surrender on the 21st and most were sent to Stalag IV-B at Mühlberg an der
Elbe.

The monument to the Lost 500 was unofficially inaugurated in October 2011
by Carl Wouters and Herbert Sheaner, who was a member of this defense in
December 1944. Mr. Sheaner was at that time the President of the 106th Infantry
Division Association Inc.

GPS Coordinates 50°17'19.3"N 6°18'10.0"E

Update 12 July 2016

BARAQUE DE FRAITURE (BE) Monument at Parker's Crossroads

For the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, CRIBA wanted to do something special for the soldiers involved in this historic battle. The battle for Parker's Crossroads is a very important event in the history of both the 106th Infantry Division as US Field Artillery in general. The main idea was to dedicate a memorial at Baraque de Fraiture, which consisted of three 105mm Howitzers, the number that was present there in 1944. After a long negotiation process the US Army donated a 1941 dated 105mm Howitzer to CRIBA, in order to make the monument. The town of Vielsalm, together with CRIBA, began with the realization of the plans for the memorial.

The monument consists of a WWII 105mm Howitzer, which is placed on the exact spot as John Gatens' (589/A) Howitzer was during the defence of the crossroads during the winter of 1944. A plaque commemorates the men of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion who fought here under the command of Major Arthur C. Parker III. An other stone block and plaque is dedicated to the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge in general. Underneath is a small plaque for the men of the 3rd Armored Division, which had a few tanks located at the crossroads.

On September 29th 2007, a new addition was inaugurated to remember the men of the 87th Reconnaissance Squadron and 203rd AAA AW Battalion of the 7th Armored Division and the soldiers of the 509th PIB and F Company, 325th GIR of the 82 Airborne Division. The ceremony was attended by three veterans of the 106th Division, namely John Schaffner and John Gatens, both of the 589th Field Artillery and Charles Lowrey of the 424th Infantry Regiment.

The "Aire du Souvenir" now pays its respect to all the units which helped to defend this vital crossroads against the German onslaught. Parker's Crossroads eventually was taken by the enemy, but the holding action was successfull and gave the men of the 82nd Airborne Division a chance to get up to the frontlines in time.

Baraque de Fraiture will always be remembered as "Parker's Crossroads".

GPS Coordinates 50°14'57.6"N 5°44'14.8"E

Update 12 July 2016

SPINEUX (BE) Monument to the 424th and 112th RCT's

This memorial is dedicated to the men of the 424th and 112th Infantry Regiments who liberated the Spineux area in January 1945. It was inaugurated in September 1989 and had suffered somewhat from being exposed to the Ardennes weather over the past 25 years. Belgians Claude Orban and Christian Meurice removed the wooden GI silhouette and restored it where necessary. The feet were skillfully replaced as they suffered from mildew and wood rot. A fresh coat of olive drab makes it like new and ready for at least another 25 years. It was reinstalled in December 2013 in time for the 70th anniversary commemorations taking place in 2015.

GPS Coordinates 50°20'48.8"N 5°54'28.0"E

Update 12 July 2016

GROSSLANGENFELD (DE) Memorial to the 106th Recon Troop

The monument dedicated to the 106th Recon troop. Standing next to it is Richard Lockhart, veteran of the 423rd Infantry regiment, who fought in the neighbouring village of Bleialf.(Photo by webmaster)

This small but poignant memorial is located in the village of Grosslangenfeld, in December 1944 the home of the 106th Reconnaissance Troop. The Troop fought heavily with elements of the German 62nd Volksgrenadier Division and the village was almost entirely destroyed. Sixty years after the end of the conflict, this memorial was inaugurated by Josef Reusch, a former member of the 560th VGD and himself a Battle of the Bulge veteran. His son-in-law Doug Mitchell is currently the caretaker of this fitting memorial to the soldiers of both sides. A new plaque was fitted to the monument in January 2015.

GPS Coordinates 50°13'15.5"N 6°15'11.7"E

Update 12 July 2016

ENNAL (BE) Monument to the 424th Infantry Regiment

A memorial in honor of the 424th Combat Infantry Regiment was inaugurated on September 28, 2008 at the small town of Ennal, near Grand-Halleux. The ceremony was presided over by men of a local non-profit organisation in cooperation with the Museum of the Battle of the Salm and the Bulge (also at Ennal). The beautiful monument, which consists of two crossed M1 Garand Rifles on a stone base, was well conceived and a commemorative plaque tells the story of the capture of Ennal by the men of the 424th.

On the 15th of January 1945, the 424th Infantry Regiment was ordered to retake the town and the high ground to the east. With K-Company protecting the left flank of the 2nd Battalion, Fox Company of the 424th took the town by night assault after attacks during the day had stalled due to concentrated fire from German positions in the houses. Brigadier General Herbert T. Perrin, acting commander of the division, went up with his troops during the attack. At the peak of furious house-to-house fighting, Perrin discovered his gun had fallen out of his shoulder holster while he was crawling through the mud and snow.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sgt. Charles "Chuck" Lowery of Company "I", 424th Infantry Regiment, who was wounded in action during the Battle of the Bulge. He was accompanied by his wife Mary. Sergeant Lowery was given the honorary citizenship of the town of Vielsalm by deputy-mayor and council president of the commune of Vielsalm, Jacques Gennen.

GPS Coordinates 50°19'43.7"N 5°55'35.6"E

Update 12 July 2016

RENCHEUX (BE) Salm River Bridge memorial

On September 7th 2013, during Belgium’s liberation weekend, a new memorial for the Battle of the Bulge was inaugurated at Rencheux, near Vielsalm.

In December 1944 the road bridge across the Salm River at Rencheux was the site of a courageous holding action by units of the 82nd Airborne Division. Their mission was to keep the roads open for American units making their way out of the St. Vith pocket and halt the German spearhead. Not far from the bridge, at the Belgian Army barracks for the Chasseurs Ardennais, General Alan Jones had installed the 106th division rear command post. Several units of the division, such as the 591st FA and at least one battalion of the 424th Infantry, made their way to Rencheux and crossed the bridge. They moved back to the area around Chêne-al-Pierre to regroup for the Manhay battle around Christmas 1944.

The idea for the Rencheux monument came from the C47 Club Inc. and it’s Ardennes Salm River Chapter members Eddy Lamberty, Claude Orban and Erik Van der Hoeven. They were dedicated to honor both the defenders and the crossers for their valiant participation in the liberation of Belgium and devised this poignant memorial. We owe them our sincere thanks and congratulations for the realization of the project.

The ceremony commenced with Eddy Lamberty and Dutch historian Erik Van Der Hoeven setting the historical context and their announcement of a book that is soon to be published about the battle at Rencheux. In his speech, C47 Club Inc. president Ed Lapotsky emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made during WWII and symbolized the missing soldiers by two helmets and an empty flag-draped chair. The commune of Vielsalm was represented by mayor Elie Leblire and I was honored to say a few words in name of the 106th, the division being one of the crossing units. Speeches were followed by a wreath and flower laying at the monument and a post-ceremony reception.

Since 2013 several markers have been added to the monument, honoring various units that fought in the Rencheux sector: the 320th Dutch RAF squadron, the Belgian SAS and the US 75th Infantry Division.

GPS Coordinates 50°17'14.8"N 5°54'44.6"E

Update 12 July 2016

Flag bearers and a USAF Color Guard are lined up next to the new Rencheux monument on September 7th during the unvailing ceremony.

During the early stages of the Battle of the Bulge, 11 African-American U.S. soldiers assigned to the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion were tortured and executed by German SS troops at Wereth. The 333rd was a Corps artillery unit attached to the 106th Infantry Division.

After being reactivated in the regular Army as a 155mm howitzer battalion just a year before their deployment, the 333rd Field Artillery soldiers spent their first six months in combat supporting the 2nd Infantry Division and 8th Corps, while holding the front line against German troops. When the Battle of the Bulge began, the unit was located near Schönberg, Belgium.

On the second day of the German offensive, 11 members of the Headquarters and Service Battery became separated from their unit while evading German armor and infantry units. While searching for food and shelter, the men spotted a farm owned by Mathias Langer, who offered the soldiers part of his family’s meager rations. At dawn, after receiving a tip from a female German sympathiser from the village, a group of Nazi SS stopped in front of the Langer house. After surrendering, the soldiers were forced to sit in the cold and mud while their fate was decided. Marched to a cow pasture behind the house, they were tortured and later shot or run through with bayonets. In the morning, villagers saw the bodies of the men in a ditch. Since they were afraid that the Germans might return, they didn’t touch the dead Americans. The bodies remained covered by snowfall until mid-February 1945 when villagers directed a U.S. Army graves registration unit to the scene.

Unlike similar war crimes, the slaying of these men wasn’t well documented or prosecuted. After an investigation proved fruitless and didn’t turn up any positive identification of those whom committed the murders, the investigation was closed.

For the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Herman Langer and some of his relatives erected a simple stone cross at the edge of the field where the atrocity took place.

On May 23rd, 2004 a new monument was erected in remembrance of the "Wereth 11". Mrs Adda Rikken, president of the US Wereth memorial committee, one of the driving forces behind this monument said it best in her speech: "What began with hate, we now end with honor."

The plaques commemorating the memorial, in four languages, were unveiled, in addition to a plaque from the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.

GPS Coordinates 50°20'55.5"N 6°13'53.1"E

THE "WERETH 11"

Curtis Adams

Mager Bradley

George Davis

Thomas Forte

Robert Green

Jim Leatherwood

Nathaniel Moss

George Moten

William Pritchett

James Stewart

Due Turner

Update 13 July 2016

BASTOGNE (BE) Mardasson Memorial - 106th Division

The Mardasson Memorial was inaugurated on July 16th, 1950 and represents the band and durable friendship between the Belgian and American people, who fought side by side during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

The monument is shape to represent the star of freedom, with five points, each measuring 31 meters in lenght. The history of the bloody battle that took place here in 1944 is engraved in the side of the huge columns. The panoramic view on the roof of the memorial shows a brilliant view on the defences of the town of Bastogne. The crypt, excavated in the rocks containst three altars. One for the catholics, one for the protestants and one for the Jewish religion. It stands as a constant reminder to the 76 890 soldiers killed, wounded or missing in action.

The names of the (then) 48 states are engraved in the crown of the memorial. On the outside there are all the divisions who participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Among them is the Golden Lion insignia with bronze letters reading "106th Infantry Division".

GPS Coordinates 50°00'33.4"N 5°44'20.8"E

Update 14 July 2016

STAVELOT (BE) Monument to the liberators

The Golden Lion of the 106th Division is represented on a plaque near the Abbey of Stavelot, located in the Rue du Chatelet. During the counteroffensive in January 1945 Stavelot was the headquarters of the 106th Infantry Division. From Stavelot the 424th Infantry Regiment moved out towards Hénumont and Wanne.

GPS Coordinates 50°23'38.0"N 5°55'50.3"E

Update 14 July 2016

POTEAU (BE) Monument to the 14th Cavalry Group

A small marker remembers visitors of the battle that took place at Poteau on 18 December 1944. Task Force Mayes, consisting of units of the 18th and 32nd Cavalry Reconaissance Squadrons, was attacked by Kampfgruppe Hansen of the 1st SS Panzer Division as they moved towards Recht. The column was badly shot up, resulting in the death of Henry Breuninger and Charles Yost of Troop "A", 18th Cavalry. The marker was placed at the scene in 2004 by Jacqueline and Rob de Ruyter of the now defunct Ardennen Poteau '44 Museum. It closed in 2014 after burglars stole most of the collection. The marker is located approximately 400 yards north of the former museum on the right side of the road, in the direction of Recht.